Jobs for Veterans State Grants

The Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program provides federal funding through a formula grant to state agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Recipients use this funding to hire dedicated staff that provide individualized career and training-related services to eligible veterans and eligible persons with employment barriers, and that assist employers in filling their workforce needs with job-seeking veterans.

The state administrative entity designated by each Governor may apply for this grant. In most cases, this is the state workforce agency.

Entities who are eligible to apply for this assistance are notified directly when it is time for them to apply for annual funding.

This assistance is not available for individuals or non-governmental organizations.

To access services available under this grant, visit our website at www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/veterans/findajob.

Eligible veterans (per 38 USC 4211(4)) and eligible persons (per 38 USC 4101(5)) who would like one-on-one career counseling or group training and are experiencing any of the following employment barriers:
• A disability: has a US Department of Veterans Affairs service-connected disability rating of at least 10%, released from service due to a disability, or has disability per the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Vietnam-era veteran: active duty between 8/5/64-5/7/75, or served in the Republic of Vietnam between 11/1/55-5/7/75
• Recently separated veteran: released from active duty within the last three years
• Referred for employment services by a representative of the US Department of Veterans Affairs
• Experiencing homelessness: will soon lose, currently lacks, and/or cannot obtain fixed, regular, adequate, permanent housing; or attempting to flee domestic violence
• Subjected to any stage of the criminal justice process
• Between 18-24 years of age
• Lacks high school diploma or equivalent
• Unemployed and available to work
• Receiving (or has received in last 6 months) public assistance through SNAP, TANF, SSI, or state/local income-based program
• Total family income does not exceed the poverty line or 70% of the lower living standard income level, whichever is higher
• Head of a single-parent household

Beneficiaries may also include:
• Transitioning service members who are within 1 year of separation or 2 years of retirement, and have participated in any part of the Transition Assistance Program
• Wounded, ill, or injured service members who are receiving treatment at a Soldier Recovery Unit
• A spouse or other family caregiver of such wounded, ill, or injured service members.

Fiscal Year based formula level funds requested are approved annually by a Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration's Grant Officer based upon reviews and recommendations by VETS Regional Administrators and Directors for Veterans' Employment and Training (RAVETs and DVETs).

It typically takes 90 days from the application due date of the first Friday in August before the state agency receives funding. This range of time depends on 1) when VETS receives a complete, valid application package, and 2) when VETS receives funding after a continuing resolution or annual appropriation bill is signed.